Methodology to determine residential heating-based flexibility potential in electricity distribution networks
Juha Haakana, Jouni Haapaniemi, Julius Vilppo, Jukka Lassila
Abstract
Demand response will be a valid tool to operate an electrical power system. A form of demand response is heating-based load control, which constitutes a significant proportion of households’ demand response potential. In this paper, the heating-based demand response is considered to provide flexibility for the operation of electricity distribution networks. The aim of the paper is to present a methodology to analyze the flexibility potential of the electric heating systems of residential electricity end-users to affect loading in electricity distribution networks. The methodology provides, with broad background information of buildings, electricity use, and electricity networks, an analysis of the effects of flexible heating loads on electricity distribution networks. The presented methodology is tested with verification data from a sparsely populated area in Finland. The verification analyses demonstrate the benefits and challenges of flexibility at the component level in an electricity distribution network.